Commissioners pick Hill for sheriff

Published: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 10:01 PM.

But, making sure there are as few bumps as possible in the transition to a new sheriff appeared to win over most of the commissioners.

“I am absolutely humbled I got selected. I have told many people that my only goal here is for a smooth transition — virtually unnoticeable,” Chris Hill said. “My goal is to get the jail up and running, which we will have going here, shortly. And I suspect that will happen before Sheriff Smith leaves. I want the jail to make revenue — I want a return to the citizens.

“And, obviously, I want to enhance the safety of the community any way I possibly can.”

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.

The current chief deputy received a 5-2 vote in his favor from the Lenoir County commissioners at their meeting Monday night. Hill will serve out the remainder of Sheriff W.E. “Billy” Smith’s term, with the option to run for re-election in 2014.

Smith is retiring after 24 years on the job.

The vote came after nearly an hour in closed session, in which commissioners appeared to take care in debating whether to appoint Hill. As the commissioners discussed the issue, Hill, several deputies, sheriff’s office staff, county courts staff and other local officials bided their time in the Lenoir County Courthouse lobby.

“I’ll tell you, for anybody whose never been through this process before, it is nerve-wracking,” Hill said. “Because, the appointment takes place outside the presence of interested parties, and when you don’t know, that’s the worst part of it all.”

After the meeting re-opened, Commissioners Chairman Reuben Davis gave the floor to Commissioner Craig Hill, who introduced the motion to appoint the incoming sheriff.

“During the course of trying to make an appointment for replacing Billy Smith as sheriff, we’ve had several highly qualified candidates to emerge with interest in this position,” Craig Hill said. “But in point of fact, we are currently in the position where transition is very important. At this point in time, I’d like to make a recommendation that we appoint Chris Hill to sheriff of Lenoir County.”

But, making sure there are as few bumps as possible in the transition to a new sheriff appeared to win over most of the commissioners.

“I am absolutely humbled I got selected. I have told many people that my only goal here is for a smooth transition — virtually unnoticeable,” Chris Hill said. “My goal is to get the jail up and running, which we will have going here, shortly. And I suspect that will happen before Sheriff Smith leaves. I want the jail to make revenue — I want a return to the citizens.

“And, obviously, I want to enhance the safety of the community any way I possibly can.”

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.